Links to previous reports, beginning with 2008, are also on the above Page.

Report from Dewayne and Rita Shappley

For the month of September, 2013

A few days ago, I read that by the year 2017 small, wireless devices –smartphones, ipads, etc.- will contribute to about 65% of the overall use of the Internet. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to design sites for the Internet that will appear correctly on such devices. Thanks to Antonio, ours do! Even now, students in some of our classes will go immediately to the Internet for information on certain subjects or to look up Bible texts.

E-mails and Notes reveal much about the material on our sites and positive reactions to it.

995,790 visitors during the first nine months of 2013, from 178 different countries. Top 20 countries by visits. Data after E-mails.

-Córdoba, Argentina. Sept. 03, 2013. “Hello, Brother Homero. Thanks for your e-mails. Continue sending us [contacts]. I will tell you we are in touch with a new person whose name is Ricardo Wodrich, who made contact with us through your Web Page. He is from Córdoba, but lives two hours from the church. We expect to go see him soon, but have already spoken to him by phone, and are taking steps to do a good job with this contact. If we are able to see him, I will send you a photograph so that you may know him. God bless you.” Daniel Hugo Fuente

-Duarte, California. Sept. 05, 2013. “I am giving a class on Christian denominations, and I am interested in your point of view. You have hit the nail on the head, as they say. There are profound subjects which every believer needs to see in the light. Thanks, and blessings in Christ the Lord.” Reynaldo Ramírez. [This man writes from the Page which has a list of studies and articles in editoriallapaz about Roman Catholicism. Referer: "http://www.editoriallapaz.org/salon_iglesia_catolica.html".]

-Tapachula, Chiapas, México. Sept. 10, 2013. “Hello. God bless all who, in one way or another, participated in developing this type of study, for which I thank you very much. We are a large congregation, but we need this type of study, and I see the principal objective is to prepare leaders who will go to the harvest. Thanks, and may God continue blessing you. Cordial greetings from the city of Tapachula, Chiapas, México.” Israel Hernández Jiménez

-Reference is to the leadership preparation course “Good Ministers of Jesus Christ.” Referer: "http://www.editoriallapaz.org/BM_Libro_completo.htm". When we were shipping tracts, books and cassettes, large quantities were sent to the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico. That was one of the very most fruitful fields for those materials. Hundreds, if not thousands, were converted and many congregations established.

Álvaro Figueroa, of Cartagena, Colombia, desires to make public practices of a church that were destroying his family

-Cartagena, Colombia. Sept. 16, 2013. “Good afternoon, brother. I want to make public practices of the Missionary Church here in Cartagena, in Barrio Escallón Villa, where my family attended –my wife and two daughters.

My wife and older daughter set themselves against me because I did not believe what was being taught in that church was edifying to my family in any way whatsoever. On the contrary, it was destroying it, for the pastor, with his false doctrines, takes control of families. He charges the tithe, first fruits, offerings, sowing to progress, pro temple, pro expansion of the temple. He obligates the congregation to sell products for the church. They sell things right in the door of the temple.

With regard to my wife, they had her occupied almost all the time, every week, coordinating workshops, instructing, in roles of an older woman, in women’s ministries, of healing, etc. All this made her stop fulfilling her principal responsibility which is that of her family, and when I confronted her with this, I invited her to go with me to the pastor so that he might help us, believing she was the guilty one. But, in reality, it was then I realized the guilty one was the little, lying pastor who had alienated her from our family, imposing on her ‘constraints of conscience,’ for when I explained to him she was spending the greater part of her time in the church, he answered that that was well, that I should accept it, since that was what God wanted her to do, that she should leave all for the church.

When I commented to him that the tithe was not for our Age, he took offense, saying he himself tithed and that anyone who did not tithe to him was robbing God, applying the same to other requirements he made to the members.

Summing up, when I understood this church was the cause of my home being torn apart, I dedicated myself to separating my family from the claws of this Antichrist disguised as a humble sheep.

Sincerely, Álvaro Figueroa

-From my own experience with Pentecostalism in Latin America, I would say similar situations are extremely common in Pentecostal churches throughout the entire Spanish-speaking world.

-Considering his petition a worthy one, I published Mr. Figuoroa’s e-mail in editoriallapaz, together with a number of commentaries on my behalf, including links to relevant studies and articles.

-I sent Álvaro data on three congregations in Cartagena, a picturesque city of about 955,000 on the Atlantic coast. Famous in times past for pirate attacks against it, during one period the city was the most fortified in South America and the Caribbean. Recently, our son, Antonio, went there as a part of his work with Motorola.

-Place not identified. “Thanks for your e-mail. I will follow step by step the guidelines. With regard to your comments, I am very content and thank you with all my heart for your time. A greeting in the love of Jesus, and may God bless your work.” José Alejandro Hernández

-Tierra Blanca, Veracruz, México. Sept. 18, 2013. “May the Almighty God bless you greatly, Brother Homero Shappley. At the present time, I am participating in the church of Christ in my city, directing singing and preaching occasionally. Helping Brother Bartolo Páez, of our congregation. The studies I find on this Web Page so enriching have been a great blessing to me, and I am going to share with brethren here in the church many of the subjects.I feel there is much confusion with regard to subjects of the book of Revelation. I myself was somewhat confused, but thanks to God and this Web Page, my doubts are dissipating. The beloved preacher of our congregation has done an excellent work, but I must say he does not get very much into the subjects of Revelation. For that reason, I assigned myself the task of searching the Scriptures, relying on your interpretations. I have not been baptized very long, a year and half, but I do like to investigate to resolve doubts. Before, I must admit I was somewhat convinced about the Rapture and Post Millennialism as taught by some televangelists. We have a big task getting people out of such error. A difficult task, but not impossible. Blessings for you and your family.” Manuel Molina Malpica

-Medellín, Colombia. July 27, 2013. “God bless you, brother. I am a person with little experience in the Word of the Lord, but I believe that, reading it carefully and analyzing it in a sound and objective way, as you have been doing by means of the marvelous Bible studies you offer on the Web Site, one can come to understand the Word of God in a simple way.” Henry. This man then asks questions about God’s repentance, as in Genesis 6:6, says he is 29 years old and asks for a study on sexuality. He adds, as a postscript: “In actuality, I am looking for a church of Jesus Christ in Medellin, Colombia, but I have not yet been baptized.” I responded to his requests, also sending him data on congregations in Medellin.

-Place not identified. Sept. 19, 2013. “Brother Homero, I greet you in the love of the Lord. May God continue blessing you, giving you ever more lucidity than that you now have.” Carlos Emilio Fontalvo Goycoecha. [Carlos writes this from the Page on the subject “Tithes in the Church. Melquisedec, Abraham and Christ. Should Christians Tithe because Abraham Gave Tithes to Melquisedec? Hebrews 7:1-10 and Genesis 14:17-20.” Referer: "http://www.editoriallapaz.org/diezmos_melquisedec.htm".]

-Ciudad Ojeda, Zulia, Venezuela. Sept. 21, 2013. “Greetings, brethren. In truth, I desire to increase my knowledge of the Word of God, especially in the church of Christ, for according to the information I have, it is as its name says.” Ubaldo A. Lubo, lawyer. [Mr. Lubo first registered with us, then sent this note after we thanked him for registering, also enclosing a list of recent documents added or improved, with their respective links. Since June of this year, visitors may register to receive periodic updates of new listings, and already hundreds have registered.]

-Sept. 29, 2013. Our reply to Mr. Lubo’s note included a reference to the Directory of churches of Christ in Venezuela. He wrote back: “Thanks, brother, for your information. My gratitude for it. I will promptly contact one of the addresses to visit and speak with them about what I need to do to receive teachings from that church.” Ubaldo A. Lubo

-Place not identified. Sept. 23, 2013. “I wish to express my gratitude for your message, for your analysis lead me to another analysis with regard to what I had set before you, and to evaluate things in agreement with Romans 14, a task I still have pending… I will keep in mind as a principal consideration the fact that if some fellowship activity is not made a part of the meeting for worship, there would be no problem of damage to the local church… From the time I wrote you to the present, things have changed in the congregation…” For the better, as Efrain Bermúdez goes on to explain. Not distinguishing correctly between the worship service and other legitimate activities of the church, or conceiving Bible classes and fellowship activities as a part of worship, has created misunderstandings and tensions in some congregations. We tried to help clarify these matters in the “analysis” to which Brother Bermúdez refers.

-Place not identified. Sept. 23, 2013. “I have learned and I have grown spiritually. I am happy. At last a Web Page with sound doctrine! Thanks to the Lord.” Juanita Bunster

-West Broward, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sept. 23, 2013. Antonio Shappley, who attends, with his family, the West Broward Spanish-speaking congregation, sent us the following Skype message. “I had very positive comments that came spontaneously from Ricardo Serje and Doris (she teaches the children) regarding content they used from the site. Ricardo is teaching the Sunday morning class and got much information from there for it. Doris took the series on teaching children.” This material also includes guidelines for teaching women. Nine slides were developed to illustrate it.

-Place not identified. Sept. 24, 2013. “As a pastor, I desire many blessings for you in Christ Jesus. Thanks for the studies so well explained. Thanks.” José. [This pastor wrote from the Page showing a graphic composed to illustrate the dream Daniel interpreted in Daniel 2, and its fulfillment. Several images and texts make up the graphic which can be projected digitally. It is one of ten on the establishment of the church. Referer: "http://www.editoriallapaz.org/iglesia_Daniel_2_Corel.htm".]

-Ibiza, Islas Baleares, Spain. Sept. 30, 2013. “Some articles have interested me greatly. I feel completely identified with some of them. At the present, I am attending a Unitarian Pentecostal church. Since some time ago, I have begun to understand that true apostolic doctrine is not preached or practiced there, and I have decided to leave very soon. I would like for you to give me a little advice about this. I am registering with you so I may have direct contact with you and thus be able to direct questions and commentaries to you, that you may be able to help me with sound doctrine, guiding me in the way of salvation.” Fredy Palacios

-Ibiza is the third largest of nine islands making up the Islas Baleares, in the western Mediterranean Sea. These islands are a part of Spain. Ibiza It is about 55 miles off the eastern coast of Spain, out from Valencia. Its population is approximately 135,000. Of course, our Web sites are available right there too! We sent Mr. Palacios the link to the Directory of churches of Christ in Spain, and the link to the document on “How to Establish and Maintain Congregations True to the New Testament.” Also forwarded his e-mail to Bro. Manuel Diaz Nevado in Spain. Mr. Palacios was on the Page “Present Day Apostles and Women Apostles Try to Defend Themselves” when he wrote. The article is a reply to claims and arguments made by those calling themselves apostles. Referer: "http://www.editoriallapaz.org/apostoles-apostolas-de-hoy-Ismael.html"

-Ensenada, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sept. 30, 2013. “Very good Web Page. I am not carrying on any ministry. Just two months ago, I changed from one church to another because I was in disagreement with what was being taught. God bless you.” Alejandra Castilo [This lady was on a Page of editoriallapaz.org which shows a Peshitta manuscript of the New Testament, No. 10 of a series of visuals about the origin of the New Testament. Referer: "http://www.editoriallapaz.org/manuscrito_NT_10_Peshitta.htm"]